Outlaw Justice (Decorah Security Series, Book #13): A Paranormal Romantic Suspense Novella by REBECCA YORK Read Free Book Online Page A

that have been? If they’d bumped into each other in a restaurant or something, would they have just made polite small talk before going their separate ways? Maybe it had taken something dramatic like this for them to admit how they really felt. Or at any rate, she knew how she felt. She was afraid to probe his emotions too deeply.
    That uncertainty made her catch a shaky breath.
    “What?”
    Scrambling for a reason for her reaction, she said, “You’re cut off from the people who usually help you.”
    He shrugged. “They can still help me do some research.”
    “It flitted through my mind to sneak out, but I know that would be dumb. I’ve got a better idea.”
    He tipped his head to the side, waiting.
    “You remember I told you that Candy and I stayed friends?”
    “And?”
    “I think she’d help us.”
    “Like how.”
    “Starting with a better place to stay. She’s got a beach house on the Jersey shore.”
    “But if Warren knows you and she are friends, he might look there—like he sent the cops to my mom’s house.”
    “She’s got a lot of connections. We wouldn’t have to stay at her place. She could ask around.”
    He nodded slowly, and she could see he was at least considering the idea. Finally he said, “You can call her. Tell her you’ve run away from Warren, and you need help. Don’t let her know that you’re with me.”
    “Why not?”
    “I want to keep our options open. We should call from a pay phone. That will make it look more authentic.”
    She nodded and exited the bathroom.
    “Are we coming back here?”
    “I don’t know. But to be on the safe side, we’ll put our stuff in the car.”
    When she finished dressing, Steve led her back down the stairs, where she was glad she wasn’t right in the line of sight of bar patrons. Probably guys who glanced their way thought Steve had paid for a few hours of her time, but perhaps that was better. If anyone asked, they’d say the couple were simple normal patrons of the upstairs rooms.
    They returned to the car and drove a few blocks.
    “There used to be more pay phones,” she murmured.
    “Yeah, before everyone had one in their pocket or purse.”
    They finally found what they were looking for in the parking lot of a gas station, and Steve pulled in.
    “Is there some way you can come up with a meeting place that only the two of you will know about?”
    “Why?”
    “In case her phone is tapped.”
    Her head jerked toward him. “You think it would be?”
    “I think we have to be prepared for something like that. I mean, why not if Warren sent cops to my mom’s?”
    Leah closed her eyes and thought for a moment. “She and I came to a restaurant in Greek town for my birthday. I mean, we were with my parents. It was an unusual treat. She should remember that.”
    “Okay.”
    When she pressed between the plastic shields on either side of the phone, Steve came up right in back her. As she held the receiver to her ear, he brought his head close to hers and clasped his arm around her shoulder.
    Her hand was shaking as she pushed the buttons on the keypad, then waited with her nerves jangling while the phone rang. Finally her friend picked up.
    “Candy, this is Leah,” she said quickly, hearing the strained quality of her own voice.
    “Leah, what’s wrong? You sound . . . strange.”
    “Long story. I left Warren.”
    “I know. He called looking for you.”
    “What did you say?”
    “That I hadn’t seen you, of course. Thank God you contacted me. What can I do to help?”
    She fought tears when she heard the concerned tone of her friend’s voice. “I always acted like everything was okay with me and Warren, but things have been getting—bad.”
    “Like how?”
    “He started getting abusive.”
    On the other end of the line, Candy drew in a quick breath. “Oh you poor thing. I’m so sorry.”
    “He seems to be under a lot of pressure. I was hoping to lie low while I figured out my next move.”
    “Are you with